Things to do in Fort Lauderdale
November through April is the dry, warm, low-humidity peak season with calm seas and clear days. Summer is hot, humid, and stormy, and June through November is hurricane season, though shoulder months bring smaller crowds and lower prices.
Best months: November, December, March, April
What is worth your time in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Beachfront PromenadeDo not miss
The palm-dotted promenade and signature wave wall along A1A, perfect for a stroll, a beach bar, or sunrise photos.
Scenic Route · 1.4 hr4.7
Hollywood Beach BroadwalkDo not miss
A breezy 2.5-mile brick promenade of cafes, ice cream stands, and bike rentals along a wide family-friendly beach.
Scenic Route · 2.3 hr4.7
Hugh Taylor Birch State ParkDo not miss
A green oasis of coastal hammock, a freshwater lagoon, and trails wedged between the Intracoastal and the beach.
Park · 2.3 hr4.7
Las Olas BoulevardDo not miss
The city's signature palm-lined boulevard of boutiques, sidewalk cafes, galleries, and nightlife linking downtown to the beach.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr4.7
Bonnet House Museum and GardensDo not miss
A whimsical 1920s plantation-style estate set on 35 subtropical acres of orchids, swans, and resident monkeys near the beach.
Historic Site · 2 hr4.6
Historic Stranahan House MuseumDo not miss
The city's oldest surviving structure, a 1901 pioneer trading post and home on the New River, now a window into early Fort Lauderdale.
Historic Site · 1.1 hr4.6
Riverwalk Fort LauderdaleDo not miss
A landscaped path along the New River linking museums, the arts district, restaurants, and water-taxi docks downtown.
Scenic Route · 1.4 hr4.6
NSU Art Museum Fort LauderdaleDo not miss
A striking downtown museum strong in CoBrA art, Latin American works, and rotating major contemporary exhibitions.
Museum · 2 hr4.5
Water Taxi Fort LauderdaleDo not miss
Cruise the canals and Intracoastal past mega-yachts and waterfront mansions, hopping on and off at the beach, Las Olas, and downtown.
Activity · 2.8 hr4.2
Fort Lauderdale BeachDo not miss
Miles of soft sand and turquoise water fronted by the iconic white wave wall and a lively oceanfront promenade.
Beach · 3.5 hr
Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park
Boardwalks, an observation tower, and kayak trails through one of South Florida's largest urban mangrove preserves.
Nature · 2.3 hr4.9
Carrie B Harbor Tours
A replica riverboat 90-minute cruise down the New River and into the harbor for the best mega-yacht and mansion views.
Activity · 1.8 hr4.8
Las Olas Gondola
A Venetian-style gondola glide through the quiet Las Olas Isles canals past waterfront homes and yachts at golden hour.
Activity · 1.3 hr4.8
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The region's premier riverfront venue for Broadway tours, concerts, opera, and ballet beside the Riverwalk.
Cultural Experience · 2.8 hr4.7
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The Water Taxi is both transport and sightseeing: an all-day pass lets you hop between the beach, Las Olas, and the canals while seeing the mega-yachts and waterfront mansions.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so plan outdoor stops like beaches and the Everglades for the morning.
- Las Olas Boulevard and the beachfront are walkable, but a car helps for Sawgrass Mills, Flamingo Gardens, and day trips to the Everglades or the Keys.
- The reef sits close to shore, so even casual snorkelers can reach coral and shipwrecks on a short boat trip.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, water, and a hat are essential year-round given the strong subtropical sun.